Mr Hancock told Mr Terry that he was amused by the story as a fellow cat owner, claiming that his cat 'Norma' does the same thing.

A letter from Matthew Hancock MP to Paddy's owner Paul

Mr Hancock's letter reads: "Dear Mr & Mrs Terry,

"I read with amusement about your pet Paddy's hobby. As a fellow cat owner to Norma, I know the dread of a 'usual' present from your cat, to receive plant pots, including a lily, must have made a pleasant surprise.

"The newspaper made it sound like Paddy had amassed quite a collection and that you were trying to return all the flowerpots by Facebook.

"Good luck with continuing to reunite the cat burglar's loot with its original owner.